You should check the oil in your car regularly. It’s not good to have too little oil, but also not good to have too much. Too little oil is bad because it gets hot quickly. Too much oil can go into the engine’s burning area and damage the catalytic converter and the lambda sensor.
Checking and changing the oil often is important for the life of the engine. Every engine uses some oil. A normal oil usage is up to half a liter for every 1000 kilometers.
Check the oil when the car is on flat ground and the engine is turned off. Wait a few minutes after turning off the engine so the oil goes back into the oil pan. Then you can check the real oil level.
When adding oil, don’t add too much. The oil level should be between the “min” and “max” marks. If you add a little too much, it’s usually okay – the level will go back to normal after some driving. But if you add too much, the oil can go into the burning area. This may not hurt the engine, but it can break the catalytic converter and the lambda sensor.
If the oil is too low (under the “min” mark), a warning light will come on. Too little oil is bad because it gets too hot. Also, without oil, parts in the engine rub together without protection, and this can melt the metal parts.
Which Oil to Choose?
There are three main types of motor oil:
- Mineral Oil
This is old-style oil, used only for very old cars. It doesn’t protect the engine well. It is sometimes used after big engine repairs. - Semi-Synthetic Oil
This is a mix of mineral and synthetic oil. It’s cheaper than full synthetic oil, but it doesn’t last as long and can’t handle very hot or cold temperatures as well. - Synthetic Oil
This is the best quality oil. It works well in very hot and very cold weather. It protects the engine very well. It’s good for turbo engines. It is also the most expensive.
It’s best to always use the same oil in your car. If you don’t know which oil to use, check the car manual. The manual will tell you which oil type and thickness is best for your engine.
